These rows of square, austere single-rise bungalows known as gaijin jutaku were built to house U.S. military personnel, whose presence has been a longstanding debate in postwar Japan. Politics aside, Minatogawa Stateside Town has since been returned to Okinawa, and is reborn as a charming cluster of cafes, restaurants and boutiques with rustic retro vibes.
PORTRIVER MARKET is a tiny grocer stocked up with local gourmet products and artisanal lifestyle goods, including Ryukyu glassware and Okinawan pottery. Check out the menu for seasonal smoothies and homemade pound cake if you’re feeling peckish.
PORTRIVER MARKET
沖縄県浦添市港川2-15-8 #30
Open Mon, Wed & Fri: 11:00 – 18:00, Tue, Thu & Sat: 12:30 – 18:00, closed on Sun & PH
We were wandering around mindlessly when a strong aroma of coffee stopped us in our tracks. Narihito Sueyoshi, the owner of Okinawa Cerrado Coffee, was roasting a batch of beans and we could see smoke rising from the chimney. We had to stop by for some coffee, which turned out to be the best we ever had on the island.
Okinawa Cerrado Coffee
沖縄県浦添市港川2-15-6 #28
Open daily 12:00 – 18:30
ippe coppe is a quaint little bakeshop that uses natural yeast and quality ingredients to produce limited quantities of baked goods every day. In summer, the garden becomes a kakigori café, churning out bowls of shaved ice topped with homemade fruit syrup.
ippe coppe ｲｯﾍﾟｺｯﾍﾟ
沖縄県浦添市港川2-16-1
Open 12:30 – 18:30, closed on Tue, Wed and every 3rd Mon
kissa niwatori 喫茶ニワトリ
Open April – September from 13:30 onwards, closed on Tue, Wed, Fri and every 3rd Mon
ESCAPE 